a2energy

a2energy

​​​​​a2energy is an outreach and education effort that aims to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources to residents and businesses across the city of Ann Arbor. a2energy is a one-stop shop to find energy-saving tips and resources for businesses, homeowners, renters, and landlords.

In December 2012, the Ann Arbor City Council passed the Climate Action Plan (CAP), setting communitywide goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase renewable energy use. ​As part of the CAP, 84 City actions were identified and quantified. CAPMatrix.pdf

What are the Climate Action Plan Goals?

Reduce communitywide GHG emissions 25% by 2025

Reduce communitywide GHG emissions 90% by 2050

Municipal operations, like recycling and trash collection, make up less than 2% of communitywide GHG emissions, so reducing energy use in buildings across the community plays a key part in reaching our goals.

Learn more about how to save energy and tools to finance energy improvements.

Partners on a2energy

With a goal of moving Ann Arbor towards more efficient and sustainable energy use, the Ann Arbor Energy Off​ice operates in three major areas: Managing projects, programs and grants; Developing information resources; Advising City managers, elected officials and the general public.

In keeping with its mission, the Energy Office supports energy-efficient building projects for more than 50 municipal facilities. An innovative Municipal Energy Fund has been utilized to implement energy improvements in over 20 city facilities. Energy Office initiatives have saved city taxpayers more than $5 million in energy expenditures over the last decade. The Energy Office has also obtained and managed over $4,000,000 in grants and rebates from federal, state, local and corporate sources. Some of these grants, such as Clean Cities grants, have given the Energy Office valuable experience in nurturing partnerships between various departments, levels of government and public and private sectors in support of alternative fuel vehicles.

Clean Energy Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting clean energy technologies as a way to create healthier, energy independent communities. Based in Ann Arbor, Clean Energy Coalition operates a diverse array of programs and services to municipal, residential and commercial clients. The organization's Communities division provides technical assistance to local governments to reduce energy use, increase energy efficiency, install renewable energy, monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop and implement environmental policies and programs. The Structures division offers a variety of services and programs to assist home and business owners in assessing critical needs and craft practical, cost-effective and sustainable energy reduction solutions. The Mobility division provides technical assistance to corporations, private industry, and municipalities to work toward sustainable transportation goals. Now managing more than 30 state and federal projects valued at more than $60 million, Clean Energy Coalition has worked closely with the City of Ann Arbor since Executive Director Sean Reed first launched the U.S. Department of Energy's Ann Arbor Clean Cities program, which serves Washtenaw County.

The Ecology Center intervenes at a systems level to address fundamental problems in the food system, the material economy, and the energy economy. The organization is a membership-based, nonprofit environmental organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded by community activists after the country's first Earth Day in 1970, the Ecology Center is now a regional leader that works for healthy people and a healthy planet. ​